Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zalsamot’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alstroemeria  plant named ‘Zalsamot’, characterized by its erect and strong flowering stems; vigorous growth habit; red purple-colored flowers; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Alstroemeria hybrida cultivar Zalsamot.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida, commercially used as a cut flower Alstroemeria, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Zalsamot’.

The new Alstroemeria is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Hillegom, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new cut flower Alstroemeria cultivars with desirable flower and plant qualities, attractive flower colors and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new Alstroemeria originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in June, 1997 in Hillegom, The Netherlands, of a proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection identified as 95146-1PN, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection identified as 95084-4PN, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Alstroemeria was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Hillegom, The Netherlands in 1998.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by root divisions in a controlled environment in Hillegom, The Netherlands, since August, 1998, has shown that the unique features of this new Alstroemeria are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Zalsamot have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Zalsamot’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Zalsamot’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Erect and strong flowering stems.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Red purple-colored flowers.     -   4. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hillegom, The Netherlands, plants of the new Alstroemeria differed from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had larger flowers than plants         of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and the female parent         selection differed in flower color as plants of the female         parent selection had soft purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hillegom, The Netherlands, plants of the new Alstroemeria differed from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria were shorter than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had shorter pedicels than         plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can also be compared to plants of the cultivar Stalilas, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,207. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hillegom, The Netherlands, plants of the new Alstroemeria differed from plants of the cultivar Stalilas in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria were shorter than plants of         the cultivar Stalilas.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had larger flowers than plants         of the cultivar Stalilas.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Alstroemeria, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Alstroemeria.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘Zalsamot’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements describe plants of the new Alstroemeria grown in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands in a glass-covered greenhouse in ground beds. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 15 to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 10 to 15° C. and light levels averaged 5,000 lux. Plants used for the photograph and description were about one year-old. The photograph and the description were taken during August and September. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida cultivar Zalsamot. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection             identified as 95146-1PN, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Alstroemeria hybrida             identified as 95084-4PN, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By root divisions.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, fleshy, thick; white, close to             155D, in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.         -   Rhizomes.—Shape: Elongate, rounded. Length: About 10 to             30 cm. Diameter: About 3 to 10 mm. Texture: Smooth. Color:             Close to 155D. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant habit.—Upright; freely branching, bushy appearance.             Vigorous growth habit.         -   Time from planting to harvest of cut flowers.—About 80 to 90             days.         -   Number of flowering stems produced per year.—About 200 to             240.         -   Plant height.—About 90 to 160 cm.         -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 20 to 30 cm.         -   Flowering stem description.—Aspect: Erect. Length: About             1.25 to 1.6 meters. Diameter: About 6 to 10 mm. Internode             length: About 2 to 6 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Pubescent. Color: Close to 137C; glossy.         -   Foliage description.—Leaves asymmetrical; sessile. Length:             About 14 to 17 cm. Width: About 2.5 to 4.5 cm. Shape: Linear             to lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Venation pattern: Parallel. Color: Developing and fully             developed foliage, upper surface: Close to 147A; glossy.             Developing and fully developed foliage, lower surface: Close             to 137A. Venation: Upper surface, close to 147A; lower             surface, close to 137A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single cup-shaped flowers arranged in             compound umbels. Perianth segments separate. Freely and             continuously flowering. Flowers not persistent.         -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering continuous during the             spring in The Netherlands.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About four weeks.         -   Flower longevity as a cut flower.—About 12 to 16 days.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.5 to 4.5 cm. Diameter: About 1             to 2 cm. Shape: Roughly ovoid. Color: Greenish yellow.         -   Umbel height.—About 10 to 12 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 15 to 20 cm.         -   Number of flowers per umbel.—About 15 to 20.         -   Flower length (height).—About 5 to 7 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5.5 to 7.5 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 6 to 6.5 cm.         -   Perianth.—Arrangement: Six arranged in two whorls, each             whorl with two lateral and one median segments. Size, inner             perianth: Length, lateral segments: About 4.5 to 6.5 cm.             Length, median segment: About 4 to 6 cm. Width, lateral             segments: About 2 to 2.5 cm. Width, median segment: About 2             to 2.5 cm. Size, outer perianth: Length, lateral and median             segments: About 4.5 to 6.5 cm. Width, lateral and median             segments: About 3.5 to 4 cm. Shape, inner perianth, lateral             and median segments: Oblanceolate. Shape, outer perianth,             lateral and median segments: Obovate. Apex, inner perianth,             lateral and median segments: Acute. Apex, outer perianth,             lateral and median segments: Bracket-shaped. Base, inner and             outer perianths, lateral and median segments: Attenuate.             Margin, inner perianth, lateral and median segments: Entire;             weakly undulate. Margin, outer perianth, lateral segments:             Entire; moderately undulate. Margin, outer perianth, median             segment: Entire; weakly undulate. Texture, inner and outer             perianths, lateral and median segments: Smooth, glabrous;             velvety. Color, inner perianth: When opening and fully             opened, lateral segments, upper surface: Towards the apex,             71A; mid-section, 3C; towards the base, close to 65D;             stripes, purplish close to 187A. When opening and fully             opened, median segment, upper surface: Close to 71A;             stripes, purplish close to 187A. When opening and fully             opened, lateral segments, lower surface: Towards the apex,             close to 71A; mid-section, 3B; towards the base, 78C. When             opening and fully opened, median segment, lower surface:             Close to 71A. Color, outer perianth: When opening and fully             opened, lateral and median segments, upper surface: Close to             71A; apex, greenish. When opening and fully opened, lateral             and median segments, lower surface: Close to 71A; tip and             venation, greenish.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4 to 8 cm. Diameter: About 3 to             4 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: About 20 to 50° from             vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 137C.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2 to 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 to             4 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: About 20 to 50° from             vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 137C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six.             Anther shape: Elliptical. Anther length: About 8 mm. Anther             diameter: About 3 mm. Anther color: Close to 183A. Pollen             amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 202A to 202B.             Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Style length: About 3.5             to 4.5 cm. Style color: Purple. Stigma color: Purple. Ovary             color: Close to 183A.         -   Fruit.—Shape: Globular. Color: Brownish. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Alstroemerias. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have been     observed to tolerate temperatures from −5 to 40° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zalsamot’, as illustrated and described. 